Attention broadcasters: English audio clip attached
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Department of the Premier revealed that a total of 7 704 youth has participated in the Premier Advancement of Youth Programme (PAY) since its inception, while close to 100 young people have received permanent employment within the Western Cape Provincial Government.
The primary goal of the PAY program is to prepare young people for work, further education, or self-employment opportunities, including small and informal businesses.
Participants of the PAY programme have revealed to the department that the programme provided workplace experience which improved their marketability, including:
• Excellent training and development opportunities to equip participants for the future;
• Helping participants to decide how and in what fields to further their studies;
• Compulsory Skills Training focused on career guidance, resilience, and an introduction to project management; and
• Digital Literacy training structured to provide computer literacy, focusing on the Microsoft Office package.
MPP Christopher Fry says, “I am pleased to see the success of the programme in upskilling and equip young people to enter the jobs market. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the Western Cape saw an additional 167 000 employed people during the 3rd quarter of last year, the highest in the country.
The DA welcomes the Provincial Government’s continued push and proactive approach to create an economically conducive climate that will foster job creation.”